“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Russia’s decision to recognise the independence of Crimea, and annex it into the Russian Federation, which is in violation of the Statute and basic principles of the Council of Europe, as well as with Russia’s commitments to the Organisation. All member states of the Council of Europe must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states”, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Anne Brasseur said today.

The President of the Assembly and the leaders of its political groups, together with the co-rapporteurs on Ukraine of the Assembly’s Monitoring Committee, will visit Ukraine from 22 to 24 March 2014 to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Follow Anne Brasseur on Twitter at @PACE_President